Unacceptable and abject – Welsh media round on team’s display against Ireland

While Joe Schmidt will have been happy with the performance of his broadly second-string Ireland side, few on the Welsh side stood up to be counted

Several players in green will have done their World Cup hopes no harm as Schmidt faces the difficult task of whittling his squad down to size, but if opposite number Warren Gatland was hoping for the same he was left sorely disappointed, according to legendary out-half Barry John.

For the first half hour it was one of the more abject displays I have seen from a Welsh team. Quite simply, it was unacceptable at any level. It was baffling considering so many Welsh players were competing for World Cup spots before the first cull. Warren Gatland must be feeling when the cull does come who on earth should he hold onto? There was an easy route for an excuse because they can just say it was the first game of the season. But ultimately these are some of the players who will be representing Wales at the World Cup. This might have not been a first team but the tournament has four matches in a short space of time and Gatland will have to rely on some of the players and this showing does not give me any confidence.

In the Sunday Times, Stephen Jones acknowledged the differences in emphasis of the two side's preseason to date, yet even that could not convince him to derive much optimism from the Welsh display.

Ireland had done more rugby work in training, while Wales have only just introduced the ball into sessions after combing the world via plane, train and even cable car in search of prime fitness. But that could not explain the enormous gap between the two teams yesterday. For the first 50 minutes Ireland were so much more streetwise, quicker in deed and thought, more accurate, more deadly in finishing.

Simon Thomas of Wales Online said the game raised serious questions about Welsh strength in depth:

The scrum was shredded, retreating at a rate of knots, while the lineout was pretty shaky at times. To put it bluntly, they were smashed in the front five. The handling was decidedly ropey, the defensive organisation left a lot to be desired, there were issues under the high ball and they were given a lesson at the breakdown in terms of clearing out and ball retention, conceding a succession of turnovers and soft tries. This was supposed to be the game where fringe figures would put their hands up for World Cup squad selection, but it has to be said precious few players advanced their causes.